Emperor

it could mean anything: weather, flight lanes all backed up because of an earlier flight delay, someone important almost missing the flight. it could be a way of getting out of paying compensation. I was once delayed on a flight from Amsterdam to Beijing by flat tyre on the plane. The captain kept the passengers fully informed, and the staff were on hand to give refreshments, and the new estimated time of departure was met. This was followed by an email the next day apologising for the inconvenience. Contrasting this with a 5 hour delay in China where there was no information other than the changing information on the screen....

Governor

The Chinese air space is controlled by the PLA air force. They have alloted a measly 20% to commercial purposes. The congestion is caused by the above that due to the over crowding of this 20% it becomes to dangerous to allow more planes on certain routes that overlap other routes. As soon as the Air Force loosens controls on the airspace more and more flights will be delayed.

You are spot on. A most reasonable and truthful answer. It is indeed the air force (read gubment) that controls the air space and they can do whatever the heck they like with commercial flights to suit the needs - and often capricious needs - of the AF and said gubment. Say, for example, Mr. Big needs to fly from X to Y. Flight lanes are suddenly and without advance notice closed to the commercial airlines so Mr. Big can get to his appointment with his concubine or lacky waiting with the red envelop in tow on time.

Kidding aside, the air space is regulated to serve national interests (i.e. the interests of a few - oh, but I'm kidding again) over the interests of ordinary citizens who pay dear money to fly in overcrowded planes which are delayed thanks to the Chosen Few. (Another kidding.)

And by the way, to the OP: the stock announcement is "due to air traffic congestion" - I believe.

And that begs the question: how many effin' airplanes does the AF have occupying the sorely needed air space for commercial flights, fer crying out loud? And another question: Why don't you see small, privately owned aircraft and TV news/police helicopters in the sky? What is there to be afraid of...?

Governor

Sometimes when another flight is delayed, it will have priority to take off/ land (or an international flight or a bigger airline). Then other flights that are supposed to wait while those priority flights take off/ land.

I'll give you an example, if 3 flights from outside the country are late and will arrive close to the time your flight is supposed to take off. They will make your flight late so that the passengers on the international flights make their connecting flights.

Emperor

It means air traffic control has not given the green light for your airplane to go yet. They have to check all the airplanes and make sure everything is clear. More than likely airtraffic control said to not take off.....

Forward Question

A:Its socially accepted tax evasion. Many companies will actually tax your salary less if you can produce a certain amount of fa piao every month.

Most if not all companies ask workers to pay all of their expenses up front and then give fa piao in order to get the money back.

The problem is that getting fa piaos from businesses isnt always easy so people need to collect them.

Often some middle manager will need to pay for a company dinner or something. When its time to pay the bill they are told that they cannot recieve reciepts. ( as the restaurant doesnt wanna pay taxes). So this guy has to eat the bill unless he can find some reciepts from another friends dinner or something.

Its all harmless and pretty common. If you have no use for it let them have it. -- mike695ca